AI Robot Boats Plant Corals to Restore Great Barrier Reef

AI-Powered Coral Restoration

• 💡 Australia's Marine Science Agency is testing a new AI system to aid in restoring the Great Barrier Reef.
• 🎯 The system uses autonomous boats equipped with cameras for real-time seafloor imaging to precisely drop baby corals.
• 🚀 This initiative is part of broader efforts to accelerate the reef's recovery following recent mass bleaching events.

Deployment Guidance System (DGS)

• 🛠️ The DGS, or Deployment Guidance System, allows for the precise placement of corals on the reef from surface boats.
• 🧠 Onboard AI identifies suitable microhabitats for young corals and triggers timely drops, reducing guesswork and enhancing accuracy.
• 📍 Corals are deployed on a ceramic device that falls and lands within approximately one meter of the intended location, ensuring accurate placement.

Addressing Coral Bleaching Losses

• ⚠️ The efforts follow significant losses of hard coral on the Great Barrier Reef due to severe bleaching in recent years.
• 📈 In 2025, the reef experienced its worst annual coral loss in nearly 40 years in its northern and southern sections.
• ✅ The hope is that planting new corals in optimal locations will significantly improve the reef's chances of recovery.